Chapter 5: Through the Pale

Dawn broke, and Rocco asked Isz to help escort him while he went fishing. Isz agreed, and both headed out toward the marsh alongside Cerberus. 

  "It never stops raining here. Is it always like this?" Isz asked. "Well, ever since I was a child, it has always been this way," Rocco replied. "My sister used to say this place was sad and always crying." "It does not look that sad, just remote and full of dangers.

" "When I was a kid, this place was quite dangerous, with many creatures, and the realm rarely came around. I am sorry, I know you serve the realm, but—"

 "It is alright. Truths must be spoken; there is no use hiding what happened.

" "Thank you. I know many are hostile toward the military, but I believe the king cares about us too." "Without a doubt. This place is difficult to access, not to mention that the maps do not chart it properly. But do not worry, I will send a letter to the king today asking for everything you might need right now." 

 "To be completely honest, just leave us in peace. We already have everything we need thanks to Father Argus." *Here we go again,* Isz thought to himself. Isz offered a faint smile to Cerberus while Rocco continued talking about Argus. 

 The rain was steady but never ceased, and the smell of humidity and moss on the trees turned the marsh into an almost suffocating landscape. Rocco reached the river and began fishing. The trip was peaceful until Isz spotted something flying in the sky. "What are those?" Isz asked. "Ah! The little fairies," Rocco answered. Isz watched closely, noticing figures with wings and horns. Their faces did not resemble traditional fairies at all.

 "Those strange horns... do they actually have those?" Rocco laughed and replied that they did not. Suddenly, the fairies landed and grew into giant sizes. Their wings transformed into blades, and their greyish skin exuded a pungent odor. 

 The fairies spat acid toward the two of them, and Isz braced himself for combat. Cerberus exhaled a burst of fire, scorching the entire area. "Rocco, go back home, now!" Isz ordered. "Right!" Rocco yelled, fleeing. Isz and Cerberus fought the fairies. While they did not pose an overwhelming threat to the two of them, Isz was left full of doubts, since these fairies were supposed to be the villagers' allies. 

 Isz returned to Rocco's house and reported what had happened, warning everyone in the village to be careful around the fairies and announcing that he would patrol the area day and night. Isz wrote a letter reporting to his superiors in the realm, stating that he would stay a few more days. He had obtained no information about Irineia, but these people needed help, and it was clear they were being manipulated by someone. "Mr. Isz, before you leave, please come receive the blessing of Father Argus with us," Rocco invited.

 "No way," a villager interrupted. "This guy has only brought misfortune since he came to our home, just like all the vermin from the army." Isz initially refused, but decided he needed to investigate further. He made his way to Argus's cult. A massive church stood within the marsh, adorned with dark stones and purple stained glass. The structure was engineered to broadcast sound to everyone in a nearly manipulative and enchanting manner. All the villagers had attended the church that morning, but Isz decided to go after his patrol.

 Isz camped out in the hollow tree trunk and realized how frozen in time this place was; nothing entered or left, and the animals were larger and stranger, as if possessed by something. While taking a walk with Cerberus, Isz saw a woman sitting by the lake, calmly combing her hair. The lake, once teeming with crocodiles, now held only a solitary person. "What on earth is that woman doing out there?" Isz muttered. Cerberus growled, and Isz shouted for her to get away from the water. Unknown Woman: "Stop what you are doing, bearer of the beast!" Isz's body froze. A chill ran straight down his spine. Unknown Woman: "Please, do not fight against forces beyond your control. I know this is not your fault, and that the beast chose you to walk by its side, but please, stop." "Who the hell are you, and how do you know about me?" Isz demanded. Unknown Woman: "I know many things about you. 

My lady is furious with you, but try to understand her side. She only wants what is best for everyone, even if it means putting down a lot of useless people." The woman had a sorrowful face and a peculiar appearance.

 Cerberus snarled at her with rage, but the woman merely averted her gaze. "Does this have to do with Irineia?" Isz asked. Morgana: "Is that what she wanted to be called in this world? How interesting, and rather cute, too.

" "Damn you, and you mock it?" Isz raged. "Look at all the evil she brought to everyone I knew and to this land as well." Morgana: "I am Morgana. And the one you call Irineia is named Fantasus. As I said, fight no more. No more unnecessary bloodshed, Isz. My lady is taking care of her child and will spend about five years away from this land." "Where will she be?" Isz demanded. Morgana: "On another plane, looking after her son, the future master of this place." "Pathetic. I will kill her the moment I find her, and you are coming with her." The woman lowered her gaze, telling Isz not to do this and that she did not wish to fight him. Morgana: "Please, Mr. Isz, I do not want to fight you. Leave this land and this place. The people are happy here, and you have come to disrupt their peace out of vengeance. Do not worry, I will ask my father to ensure Lady Fantasus does not seek vengeance against you either.

" Isz stared at her with a look of pure astonishment. "Are you a Voice?" Morgana: "No, I was born in this land, but my parents came from... there." Morgana pointed up toward the sky. With a confused expression, Isz asked why she was telling him all of this. Morgana: "So that there may be no more conflict. Accept the new world." Isz laughed at Morgana, declaring that no one wanted to live in an illusion created by someone as monstrous as Irineia. Morgana: "Monstrous? Well, Lady Fantasus's original appearance might frighten people, but in this land, she chose a beautiful body; I doubt she will have trouble convincing people. You need to look through the pale, Isz." "Enough talk!" Isz channeled energy into his sword, but Morgana, with tears in her eyes, begged him to stop, repeating that she would not fight him. She gave him a final warning, saying her brother and father were not nearly as peaceful and would not spare him. Morgana pointed at Isz and added that the Lightning Beast was a selfish entity that had dragged him into all of this. With that, she retreated, vanishing into the mist. "Damn it, I need to warn the others." Isz sat down to write a letter, but before he could send it, the Lightning Beast interrupted him, saying it had something crucial to tell Isz.